Article dispenser



M. C. FITCH ARTICLE DISPENSER May 24, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1959 m m m m A m Q W I 0 F May 24, 1960 M. c. FITCH 2,937,735

ARTICLE DISPENSER Filed March 9, 1959 L5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

' IN VEN TOR. Milton 0. Fitch M. C. FITCH ARTICLE DISPENSER May 24, 1960 5 Sheets-Shegt 3 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTOR. MIIIOD C. F rch May 24, 1960 M. c. FITCH ARTICLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTOR. Milton C. F i ch mw ME Attorney May 24, 1960 M. c. FITCH ARTICLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1959 zzvmvron. Milton C. F i r h Attorney (I II III II llllH/lllklllllll l [\JIIIII I llllvainlllll'ililfll-JI anism shown in Figures 2 and 3.

United States PatentO ARTICLE DISPENSER Milton C. Fitch, 807 16th Ave., Menlo Park, Calif.

Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 797,906

4 Claims. (Cl. 194-2) The invention relates to dispensers for articles and particularly to dispensers designed for selective dispensing of several different classes of such articles.

An object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of novel compactness and attractiveness for dispensing articles in environments where space is restricted and at a premium while at the same time displaying such articles in a prominent and attractive manner for favorable competition with other articles that may be displayed in the same restricted space, the dispenser being particularly.

designed for displaying and dispensing several different styles, types or classes of articles, for easy selection of any one class of articles to be dispensed, and for easy operation to dispense such class of article in one-at-a-time order.

Another object of the invention is to provide, for compactness and ease of operation, a mechanically simplified dispenser on which a single dispensing mechanism operates to dispense any and all of the articles displayed regardless of class, and yet in which selection is easily made of any particular class of article for dispensing by the single dispensing mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser having all of the above-listed features and being at the same time fool proof and positive in operation and ruggedly constructed to withstand hard use and abuse over a long useful life, the dispenser being particularly adapted for coin-operation for vending its articles in a positive and certain'cash-and-tcarry manner, i.e., without being subject to mis-operation in a manner to retain a patrons coin without dispensing to him the desired article, or, in the converse manner, to be milked either accidentally or by persons with larcenous intent so as to dispense an article without receiving and retaining a true coin of the desired minimum denomination therefor.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is understood, however, that variations in the showing made :by said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings (five sheets):

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention, the view being taken from the front and left sides of the dispenser as it would be faced by an operator thereof.

Figure 2 is a left side elevation of the dispenser shown in Figure 1 with the outer case and display panel thereof removed so as to leave showing only the operating mechanism portion.

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the operating mechanism shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a back-side elevation of the operating mech- 8 2,937,735. Patented May 24, 19cc Figure 5 is a right-side elevation of the operating mechanism shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. v

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional elevation of the operating mechanism, the view being taken along lines 66 of the Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 7 is another right-side elevation of the operating mechanism illustrating phases of its operation.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the invention taken along line 88 ure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional view of the portion of the invention shown in Figure8,

taken along line 9-9 of Figure 8.

The present dispenser is particularly designed to store and selectively dispense an assortmentof small articles, such as small vials or tubes of perfume, which may be conveniently packaged in a standard size cylindrical container.

Referring particularly to Figure 6 there are shown article 11 of a first class, articles 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of a second class, articles 17, 18 and 19 of a third class, articles 20 and 21 of a fourth class and so on. Essentially the dispenser comprises a plurality of magazines 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29, each for storing a different class of article (the partition between magazines 27 and 28 being shown as removed in this illustration); a plurality of dispensing drums 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 each journaled for axial rotation at the outlet of a different magazine (the drum 34 being removed in this illustration); each drum being formed with a recess 37 adapted to receive a single one, of the articles when the drum is in a first rotated position with the recess 37 facing into its respective magazine, and each drum being'adapted to discharge the article when the drum is in a second rotated position as shown in the drawing with the recess 37 facing out of the respective magazine; a plurality of drum rotating elements 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 each operatively connected to a different drum; a manually en gageable and displaceable actuator 46 (shown particularly in Figures 2, 4, 7 and 8); and a manually engageable and displaceable drum selector means 47 shown particularly in Figures 7 and 8) functioning on manual displacement to selectively couple the actuator 46 to any one of the drum rotating elements 3843 to effect rotary displacement of the associated drum.

As particularly shown in Figure 8 the drum rotating elements 38-43 each comprise a pinion 48 connected to each drum, and a rack 49 operatively associated with each pinion for effecting rotation thereof and the associated drum; and the selector means 47 includes a manually displaceable member 51 which may be brought into selective engagement with any one of the racks 49 for displacement thereof.

As particularly shown in Figures 2, 4 and 7, the actuator 46 includes a manually engageable and displaceable lever 52 and a plate 53 mounted for reciprocation'in an up and down direction. As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 7, the plate 53 is connected to the lever 52 for this reciprocation upon reciprocal movement of lever As particularly shown in Figures 7 and 8, the selector member 51 of the selector means 47 is carried by the plate 53 for movement transversely of the direction of reciprocation of the plate 53, i.e., generally transverse to the vertical. 7

As particularly shown in Figures 7 and 8, the plate 53 is provided with a track 54 and the. selector member 51 is carried in and guidedby the track 54 into alignment with the end of any one of the racks 49; and the dispenser also includes an indexing means 56 connected to the selector member 51 for centering the positions of the member corresponding to the rack aligned positions of the member.

AS Particularly shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8, the selector means 47 includes a manually engageable and displaceable selector lever 57 which may be swung to a number of positions corrwponding to the number of the drums 31-36, a third lever 58 pivotally mounted for movement along the track 54 and being provided with a second track 59, the selector member 51 being jointly carried in the first named and second tracks 54 and 59, the third lever 58 being provided with a third track 61, a pin 62 carried by the selector lever 57 and engaged in the third track 61 for reciprocating the third lever 58 to displace the selector member 51 along the first track 54 upon reciprocal displacement of the selector lever 57; and the indexing means 56 comprises a springloaded double coxcomb clamp 63 slideably engaging the pin 62 for centering the pin in positions corresponding with the rack aligned positions of the member 51.

In the mechanism as above described the actuator 46 is particularly mounted for movement through progressive and regressive strokes (i.e., reciprocating strokes forth-and-back); and the drum selector means 47 functions on manual displacement to selectively couple the actuator 46 to any one of the drum rotating elements 38-43 to efiect rotary displacement of the associated drum particularly from the second to the first position thereof upon progressive movement of the actuator 46. As particularly shown in Figure 2, the dispenser also includes a spring trigger means 64 connected to the drums 31-36 and charged and set upon movement of the drum from second to first position and functioning when released to move the drum from first to second position, the actuator 46 having a lost motion connection to the elements 38-43 permitting movement of the actuator through its regressive stroke to starting position without displacement of the coupled element 38-43, and means 66 releasing the spring-trigger means 64 upon return movement of the actuator 46 to starting position.

The dispenser may be operated with the elements above described but it is also adapted for coin operation and for this purpose includes, as particularly shown in Figures 4 and 6, a coin receiving and storing box, a coin return chute 68, a coin receiving mechanism 69 operatively connected to and interlocking with the motion of the actuator 46 and functioning to release a coin 72 to the box 67 upon movement of the actuator 46 to trigger setting position and to release the coin 72 to the chute 68 upon return movement of the actuator 46 from an intermediate position short of trigger setting position. As particularly shown in Figures 3, 6 and 8, there is also provided an article follower 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78 mounted for movement in each of the magazines 24-29 and having a position corresponding to an empty magazine condition (shown particularly for follower 73 in Figure 8, and for follower 77 in Figure 6) and being connected in this position to interrupt the progressive movement of the actuator 46 at the described intermediate position.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention willnow be described in detail.

The basic chassis for the operating mechanism of the invention comprises two spaced parallel side plates 81 and 82 rigidly connected and spaced by a transverse spacing plate 83 (shown particularly in Figures 4 and 6). Two spaced parallel magazine mounting side plates 84 and 85 are firmly mounted, one on each plate 81 and 82 on the facing sides thereof and are spaced apart by parallel vertical transverse magazine partition plates 87 (shown particularly in Figure 1) and 88, 89, 90, 91, 92', 93 (shown particularly in Figure 6, with the plate 91 being removed) firmly afiixed thereto. Thus are formed the magazines 24-29 as vertical compartments of suitable dimensions for stacking the tubular articles 11-21 therein with the axes thereof horizontal and transverse in the mechanism. The partition plates 87-93 areparticularly offset in a vertical direction so as to form a general configuration sloping downwardly from the rear to the front of the machine for purposes to be later described. The

dispensing drums 31-36 are mounted at the bottoms of the respective magazines with their axes transverse and horizontal and are formed as hollow half cylinders, the interior recesses 37 of which are dimensioned to fit loosely around one of the articles 11-21 at a time. The cylindrical ends of the drums are formed as journal bearings fitting into circular bearing apertures such as bearing aperture 94 shown in respect of magazine 27 in Figure 6 and the right hand ends of the drums are extended and toothed to form the pinions 48 projecting into vertical parallel rack channels formed in the magazine mounting side plate 85, such as the rack channel 96 particularly shown in Figure 8. Each rack 49 is thus mounted for vertical reciprocation in its rack channel between the plates and 82, and each rack 49 has a rack extension 97 at its upper end projecting inwardly into an aperture 98 formed through the plate 85, and each rack is so dimensioned in relation to its channel 96 that when the extension 97 of the rack is bearing against the bottom of the aperture 98 then a space 99 is left between the bottom of the rack and the bottom of the rack channel as shown particularly in Figure 8, for contingent insertion of the selector member 51. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, a sloping selector member groove 101 is formed in the outer face of the plate 85 and connecting the bottom ends of all of the rack channels for selective displacement of the member 51 into engagement with any one of the racks 49 for vertical displacement thereof. The racks, pinions and drums are so arranged that the recesses 37 of the drums are facing downwards when the racks are in their downmost positions as shown in Figure 8, and so that any rack upon being moved vertically upward by the member 51 rotates the pinion and drum so that the recess 37 thereof is facing upward and in a position to receive one of the articles 11-21, whereupon, the rack being moved downward again the pinion and drum is rotated back to its second position with the recess 37 facing downward so as to drop the article out of the magazine.

As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 7, the actuator plate 53 is slidably mounted on the outward side of the side plate 82 and for vertical reciprocation as by washer bolts 102 and 103 affixed to the plate 82 and riding in elongated vertical apertures 104 and 106 formed in the plate 53. As particularly shown in Figure 2, the actuator lever 52 is pivotally mounted on the left side of plate 81 as by bolt 107 afiixed to the plate 81 and the plate 53 and lever 52 are connected together for concurrent reciprocation as by the following linkages:

A linkage plate 108 is mounted for vertical reciprocation against the outer side of side plate 81 as by a washer bolt 109 aflixed to the plate 81 and riding in an elongated vertical aperture 111 formed in the linkage plate 108, and the linkage plate 108 is connected for reciprocation with the lever 52 as by a pivot pin 112 afiixed to the lever 52 and riding in an aperture 113 formed in the linkage plate 108; as particularly shown in Figures 2 and 4 a rocker arm 114 is pivotally connected to the transverse spacing plate 83 as by a bolt 116 disposed generally midway of the length of the rocker arm, and the rocker arm is pivotally secured to both the linkage plate 108 and the actuator plate 53, as by extension to project through an elongated vertical slot 117 formed in the side plate 81 through a snug fitting aperture 118 formed in the linkage plate 108 and as by a pin 119 afiixed to a tab 121 extended from the actuator plate 53 transversely inwardly of the machine and through an elongated vertical slot (not shown) formed in the side plate 82, the pin 119 riding in an elongated horizontal slot 122 formed 'in the rocker arm 114. Thus when the actuator lever 52 is moved downwardly the pivot pin 112 moves the linkage plate 108 downwardly and the motion is translated through the rocker arm 114 to move the actuator plate 53 upwardly. The aperture 113 in the linkage plate 108 may be formed to fitgenerally snugly around the '5 pivotpin 112 so' that the lever 52, plate 108, rocker arm 114, and plate 53 also move backwardly or regressively in phase together, but in the embodiment shown, the-aperture 113 is formed as an elongated vertical slot for purposes later to be described.

As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 7, the track 54 that is formed in the plate 53 is actually an elongated slot disposed at the same sloping angle as the bottoms of the magazines 24-29 and the selector member groove 101 in the magazine mounting side plate 85, and the selector member 51 is slidably carried in this track slot 54 for selective positioning in bearing engagement at the bottom ends of any one of the racks 49.

As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 7, the selector lever 57 is pivotally mounted to the side plate 82 as by the washer bolt 103 and has a tab portion 123 projecting upwardly therefrom near the mid portion thereof. The third lever 58 is pivotally mounted to the side plate 82 as by a bolt 124 afiixed to the side plate near the top thereof, so that the third lever 58 is ready to swing in an arc along the track 54 formed in the actuator plate 53. The second track 59 that is formed in the third lever 58 consists of a generally vertical elongated slot adapted for carrying the selector member 51 jointly with the track 54 formed in the actuator plate 53. The third track 61 that is formed in the third lever 58 also consists of an elongated generally vertical slot, and the third lever 58 and the selector lever 57 are connected for concurrent reciprocation as by the pin 62 afiixed to the tab 123 of the selector lever 57, the pin 62 projecting through and riding in the track 61 of the third lever 58. Thus when the selector lever 57 is pivoted up and down, the third lever 58, actuated by the pin 62, is pivoted rearwardly and'frontwardly of the machine, and the selector member 51 carried in the second track 59 is moved rearwardly and frontwardly along the track 54 of the actuator plate 53. The selector member 51 is particularly formed for this action as shown in Figure 8; the member comprises a flange headed pin 126 disposed with the head 127 of the pin lying fiat against the outer side of the third lever 58 and covering widthwise the second track slot 59, and with the shank of the pin projecting inwardly through the slot 59, the track slot 54, and into the selector member groove 101; and a spacing washer 128 is disposed further down the shank of the pin 126 between the third lever 58 and the actuator plate 53. The washer 128 may have a projecting collar formed projecting inwardly and bearing into the track groove 54 of the actuator plate 53. The pin 126. is retained for action in this position by means of a retaining plate 129 afiixed to the side plate 82 as by fasteners 232 and 132 and disposed snugly covering the head 127 of the pin for sliding motion thereof in all of its positions, as particularly shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8. For causing downward or regressive reciprocal motion of any and all the racks 49, the actuator plate 53, has a number of projections 131, one for each rack, extending from and projecting inwardly from the plate through avertically elongated opening 102 formed in the side plate 82 as shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8. The projections 131 are disposed on the same sloping angle as the bottoms of the magazines 24-49 and each projection is disposed to bear directly against the top of one of racks 49 when the racks and the actuator plate 53 are all in their down motion positions. As particularly shown in Figure 8, the projections 131 project inwardly for a distance passing the outer face of the magazine mounting side plate 85, but not so far as the inwardly projecting ends of the rack extensions 97 for reasons to be later explained. Thus when the actuator plate 53has been moved upwardly and the selector member 51 concurrently with it together with one of the racks 49, then when the actuator plate 53'is returned downwardly to its original position the corresponding projection 131 bearing' against the upward end of the rack returns that rack to its original downward position.

- As particularly shown in Figures 5 and 7, the indexing means 56 comprising the spring-loaded double coxcomb clamp 63 is formed of two clamp arms 133 and 134 each pivotally afiixed to the side plate 82 as by the bolt 124 and spring-loaded as by the spring 126 for clamping action against each other, and the racing sides of the clamp arms 133 and 134 are formed into a double coxcomb indexing surface further defined as two sets of matching scallops; a first set comprising scallop surfaces 136, 137, 138, 139, 140 and 141 formed in clamp arm 133 and a second set comprising scallops 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, and 147 formed in clamp arm 134. Thus there is provided a pair of matching scallop surfaces, as for instance the pair 142-136, for each rack-bearing position of the selector member 51, and the clamp 63 is disposed with the coxcomb surfaces of the clamp arms embracing the pin 62 of the selector lever 57 so as to center the lever 57 and its associated linkages including the selector member 51 in the nearest rack-bearing position of the'selector member 51 whenever the lever 57 is released and left at rest in the course of its manual operation upward or. downward.

It will be understood that the entire actuator 46 in-v cluding the actuator lever 52, and linkage plate 108, the rocker arm 114, and the actuator plate 53 with its projections 131 and track 54, is mounted for movement through progressive and regressive strokes, and that the drum selector means 47 including the selector lever 57 the third lever 58, the double coxcomb clamp 63 and the selector member 51 function on manual displacement to selectively couple the actuator '46 through the selector member 51 to any one of the drum rotating elements- 38-43 to effect rotary displacement of the associated,

drum 31-36 from the second to first position thereof (i.e. from a position with the recess facing upward) upon the progressive movement of the actuator 46, and to effect rotary displacement of the drum from the first to the second position upon the regressive movement of the actuator 46. To render this operation of the actuator more simple and foolproof, the actuator lever 52 is springloaded against progressive and for regressive movement as by a spring 148 connected between the lever 52 and the side plate 81, so that the progressive movement of the lever 52 is under the control of the operator but the regressive movement of the lever is automatic. Because of the lost motion connection between the actuator lever 52 and the linkage plate 108 as embodied by the pivot pin 112 riding in the elongated vertical aperture 113, the'linkage plate 108 (and thus the entire actuator 46) is also spring loaded against progressive and for regressive movement as by the spring 149 connected between the linkage plate 108 and the side plate 81. Thus the entire regressive movement of the actuator, the selector member 51, the drum rotating elements 38-43 and the drums 31-36 is rendered fully automatic. The lost motion connection between the lever 52 and the linkage plate 108 is particularly provided for cooperation with the spring trigger means 64 for rendering the regressive motion of the actuator even more positive and automatic an operation. As particularly shown in Figure 2, the spring trigger means 64 comprises a vertically mounted trigger plate 151 pivoted as by a bolt 152 aflixed to the side plate 81 near the upper end of the plate 151, the plate being spring loaded for pivoting motion toward the rear ofthe apparatus as by a spring 153 connected between the plate 151 and the side plate 81. The trigger plate 151 has a detent projection 154 projecting in;

wardly and disposed to bear against the forward side of the linkage plate 108 (i.e., bearing against the spring loaded motion of the trigger plate toward the rear of the apparatus) when the apparatus is in its normal at-rest position. The detent projection 154is particularly positioned vertically on the trigger plate 151 and in relation to the upper end of the linkage plate 108 so that when the actuator 46 including the linkage plate is moved progressively to a position designated as trigger loading position the upper end of the linkage plate 108 rides downward past the detent projection 154 and the trigger plate 151 is thus freed for rearward pivoting under the influence of the spring 153, and the detent projection 154 is brought into a position to bear against the upper side of the linkage plate 108 and to block the motion of the actuator 46 (not including the lever 52) in its regressive direction. The rearward pivoting of the trigger plate 151 is limited by a projection 156 extending from the bottom end of the trigger plate 151 and positioned to bear against the pivot pin 112 when the trigger plate has swung through its desired arc rearwardly. A cam surface 157 is provided at the lower end of the trigger plate 151 for hearing against the pivot pin 112 and for urging the trigger plate 151 in an arc forwardly of the apparatus upon regressive motion of the pivot pin 112 and lever 52 to a position designated as trigger tripping position in which the detent projection 154 has moved forwardly of the forward edge of the linkage plate 108 and the linkage plate and the rest of the actuator 46 is instantaneously freed for a sudden and sharp regressive motion under the urging of the spring 149. Thus the spring trigger means 64, which is connected to the drums 31-36 through the actuator 46, the selector member 51 and the drum rotating elements 38-43 is charged and set upon movement of the drum from its second to its first position under the influence of the actuator, and functions When released to move the drum from first to second position. The actuator and trigger elements involved are so proportioned and disposed as to insure that the trigger means 64 is given the greatest possible charge and to this end they are arranged so that the trigger setting position eventuates near the end of the progressive motion of the apparatus (but before the drum has arrived in its first position and before the article 11 has dropped into the recess 37, so as to render it impossible to dispense the article without use of the trigger mechanism) and so that the trigger tripping position eventuates at the end of the regressive motion of the manually operable actuator lever 52, thus the actuator 46 is moved through the greatest possible part of its progressive motion before the trigger is set and the greatest possible charge is provided by fullest distention of the spring 149, while to effectuate the regressive motion of the apparatus the operator must return the lever 52 to its starting position and is thus not able to interfere wih the discharging function of the trigger which function is rendered fully automatic. The sudden, sharp, powerful, discharging action thus insured makes certain that the article 11 will be positively and forcefully ejected from the machine and obviates the possibility of jamming the article in the drum as might occur if the operator deliberately or by mistake were able to release the apparatus slowly through its regressive motion. This arrangement also has advantages in relation to coin operation of the machine as will later be seen.

As particularly shown in Figures 4 and 6, the coin receiving and storing box comprises the space rearward of the transverse spacing plate 83 and beneath the coin return chute 68, which is disposed beneath the magazine 24-29 sloping downwardly from rear to front of the machine. The coin receiving mechanism 69 comprises a rocking bracket 158 pivoted for forward-backward rocking motion as by pivot pins 159 afiixed to the lower rear corners of the side plates 81 and 82. As particularly shown in Figures 2 and 4, the bracket 158 has a projection 161 extending outwardly through an aperture 162 in the side plate 81 and into bearing engagement with a cam surface 163 formed on the linkage plate 108 for urging the bracket in rearward pivoting motion during progressive motion ofthe actuator 46, the bracket 158 76 49 8 being spring loaded for regressive motion as by a spring 164 connected between the projection 161 and the outward projecting end of the rocker arm 114. Afiixed to the top of the bracket 158 is a coin holding member 166 having a pair of-coin embracing arms 167 and 168 defining a vertical coin slide channel 169 disposed for vertical sliding of the coin 72 and for rocking motion of the coin 72 in a direction perpendicular to the face of the coin. The coin holding member 166 also has a pair of upper and lower apertures 171 and 172 formed therethrough in a direction perpendicular to the rocking direction of the member. A .pair of upper and lower ledge elements 173 and 174 are disposed projecting through the respective apertures 171 and 172 and intersecting the slide channel 169 in the at-rest position of the member 166, the ledge elements 173-174 being affixed to a transverse plate 176 firmly attached to and extending between the side plates 81 and 82. A stop-motion rocker arm 177, spring loaded for regressive motion is mounted by pivoting brackets 178 and 179 on the inward side of plate 82 and has an outwardly projecting end 181 extending through an enlarged aperture (not shown) in the plate 82 and through an aperture 182 formed in the actuator plate 53 (particularly shown in Figure 7) so as to effectively block progressive motion of the actuator plate 53. As shown in Figure 4, the other end 183 of the rocker arm 177 extends across the rearward face of the coin 72 in its first position projecting above the upper end of the coin slide channel 169 and resting on the upper ledge 173, so as to be engaged and moved rearwardly by the coin 72 in its own motion to the rear thus removing the end 181 from engagement with the actuator plate 53 and freeing the actuator plate for progressive motion. The end 183 is precisely long enough to engage the coin 72 of the desired minimum diameter but not to engage coins of smaller diameter. The upper ledge 173 is just long enough to carry the coin 72 in progressive motion engaging the end 183 until the plate 53 is freed and a position defined as first coin dropping position is reached, whereupon the coin 72 drops past the end of the upper ledge 173 and slides in the vertical slide channel 169, coming to rest upon the lower ledge 174. During further progressive motion of the actuator 46 and the coin receiving mechanism 69 the coin is dropped ofi the end of the ledge 174 into the coin box, the ledge 174 being proportioned in length so that the second coin dropping position generally coincides with the trigger setting position aforementioned, so that it is insured that the coin is dropped irrevocably into the box before the article 11 is dropped into the recess 37 of the drum being actuated. The ledge 174 also has a notch 184 formed in a side thereof and positioned so that coin 72 will drop through it into the coin return chute 68 whenever the coin is on the ledge 174 in a position of the apparatus short of the first coin dropping position above mentioned. Thus if the progressive motion of the apparatus stops at an intermediate position short of the trigger setting position, the coin still being retained on the ledge 174, the coin is dropped into the coin return chute and returned to the operator upon regressive motion of the actuator 46 from the intermediate position above mentioned. The article followers 73-78 are disposed as shown in Figures 6 and 8 each being composed of a pivot arm 186 pivoted as by pin 187 affixed to a respective magazine partition plate 88-93, spring loaded as by spring 188 for motion downward following the respective articles 11-21 in the magazine, and having a bearing stud 189 for bearing against the uppermost article. Each follower has a detent projection 191 disposed for projecting through the aperture 98 in the magazine mounting side plate only when the respective magazine is empty and the follower pivot arm 186 is in a strict vertical position as shown in Figure 8. The detent projection 191 is particularly disposed in this position to block the progressive motion of the rack extension 97 of the rack and to bear against but without interfering withthe motion of the projection 131 of the actuator plate 53. The detent projection 191 is particularly proportioned and disposed to block the motion of the rack 49 and consequently the selector member 51 and the entire actuator 46 particularly at the intermediate position above referred to which is short of the trigger setting position. Thus whenever a particularly selected magazine is empty, the progressive motion of the entire mechanism is blocked by the follower before the coin has been dropped into the coin box 67, before the trigger has been set, and before the article has dropped into the recess 37 of the drum, and upon subsequent regressive motion of the mechanism the coin is automatically dropped into the coin return chute 68 and returned to the operator.

As shown in Figures and 6 a spring loaded pawl 192 is atfixed to the side plate 82 for engagement with a set of ratchet notches 193 formed in the rearward side of the actuator plate 53 for blocking regressive motion of the actuator plate 53 at all positions thereof beginning immediately after the first coin dropping and the intermediate positions above referred to and extending to the trigger setting position. A deep recess 194 is formed in the rearward side of the actuator plate 53 immediately below the notches 193 for disengagement of the pawl 192 permitting regressive motion of the plate 53 and the entire mechanism after the trigger has been set. This arrangement together with the trigger setting mechanism previously described prevents the operator from controlling regressive motion of the apparatus at any time after the intermediate position has been passed and thus prevents the operator from accidentally or deliberately milking the apparatus so as to obtain more than one of the articles to reach coin inserted in the machine. A second deep recess 196 formed in the plate 53 directly above the notches 193 frees the pawl from engagement withvthe plate 53 in earlier stages of the motion.

Coin sensing apparatus 197 is disposedin the apparatus and forms a channel conducting the coin 72 from the top of the apparatus to its first position in the coin receiving mechanism 69. As shown in Figure 1, the operating mechanism ,is contained in an outer display case 198 having a coin input aperture 199 communicating I with the coin sensing apparatus 197, paper napkin dispensers201, a dispensing aperture 202 aligned with the coin return chute 68 and a transparent window 203 extending over the top and front of the case. The operating levers 52 and 57 project out of the case and the selector lever 57 has a pointer 204 attached thereto and arranged for vertical movement behind the window 203. On the front of the front magazine partition plate 87 are mounted examples 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211 of each different class of articles 11-21 in an array corresponding with the magazine positions of the selector lever 57 as indicated by the pointer 204, thus enabling the operator to choose the variety of article he desires for dispensing. The examples 206-211 may consist of suitably branded containers for single applicationvials or tubes of perfume. A cover card 212 covers the tops of the magazines beneath the window 203 and is available for printing or other advertising display.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for an assortment of small articles comprising a plurality of magazines each for storing a difierent class of said articles; a plurality of dispensing drums each journalled for axial rotation at the outlet of a different magazine, each drum being formed with a recess adapted to receive a single one of said articles when said recess is rotated to a position facing into its associated magazine and to discharge an article when rotated to anopposite position; a pinion connected coaxially to each drum for rotation therewith; a rack mounted forengagement with and rotation of each pinion and associated "drum; a manually engageable and displaceable actuator for displacing said racks; and a r manually engageable and displaceable drum selector means including a plate mounted for reciprocation and provided with a track, a manually engageable and displaceable lever connected to said plate for reciprocation thereon, a member coupled to said actuator and being carried in and guided by said track into operative connect- 1 ing position with any one of said racks; and indexing means connected to said member for centering said member in said connecting position. i

2. A dispenser as characterized in claim 1 wherein said lever which may be swung to a number of positions corresponding to the number of said drums, at third lever pivotally mounted for movement along said track and being provided with a second track, said selector member being jointlyvcarried in said first-named and second tracks, said third lever being provided with a third track, a pin carried by said selector lever and engaged in said third track for reciprocating said third lever to displace said selectormember along said first track upon reciprocal displacement of said selector lever, and wherein said indexing means comprises a spring-loaded double coxcomb clamp slidably engaging said pin for centering said pin in positions corresponding with the rack aligned positions of said member.

3. A dispenser for an assortment of small articles comprising a plurality of magazines each for storing a different class of said articles; a plurality of dispensing drums each journalled for axial rotation at the outlet of a diiferent magazine, each drum being formed with a recess adapted to receive a single one of said articles when said drum is in a first rotated position with said recess facing into said respective magazineand to discharge said article when said drum is in a second rotated position with said recess facing out of said magazine; a plurality of drum-rotating elements each operatively connected to a different drum; a manually engageable and displaceable actuator mounted for movement through progressive and regressive strokes and a manually engageable and displaceable drum selector means functioning on manual displacement to selectively couple said actu-' ator to any one of said drum rotating elements to effect rotary displacement of the associated'drum from second to first position upon progressive movement of saidactuator, spring'trigger means connected to said drums and charged and set upon movement of a drum from second to first position and functioning when released to move said drum from first to second position, said actuator having a lost motion connection to said elements permitting movement of said actuator through its regressive stroke to starting position without displacement of the coupled element, and means releasing said spring trigger means upon return movement of said actuator to starting position.

4. A dispenser as characterized in claim 3 adapted for coin operation and including a coin' receiving and storing box, a coin return chute, a coin receiving mechanism operatively connected to and interlocking with the motion of said actuator and functioning to release said coin to said box upon movement of said actuator to trigger setting position and to release said coin to said chute upon return movement of said actuator from an intermediate position short of trigger setting position, and an article follower mounted for movement in each of said magazines and having a position corresponding ,to ail" empty magazine condition and being connected in said position to interrupt theprogressive movement of said actuator at said intermediate position.

References Cited in the file of thispatent V UNITED STATES PATENTS.

'Eckrnann Feb. 7, 1933 

